Electric sign



Patented July 14, 1942 I ELECTRIC SIGN Elmer L. Ballew, Saginaw, Mich.Application January 17, 1940, SeriaLN'o.3l4,213

Claims.

This invention relates to an electric sign.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel electric sign by meansof which the illusion of moving spots or areas of light may be createdin a novel and distinct manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel electric signwhich is constructed and arranged in such a manner that spots or areasof light will appear to be moved along the axis of a spiral shapedrotating member when the device is in operation thereby creating theillusion of a continual moving spiral band or series of light spots orareas.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electric signcomprising an elongated stationary lmninous tube and an opaque spiralmember rotatably mounted thereon whereby when the spiral member isrotated a band of light will be caused to move spirally along the .axisof the stationary luminous tube.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display device or signwhich is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with outdooradvertising signs, window signs, store fronts, signals, highway andrailroad crossings, and the like.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel comb-ination and arrangement ofparts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawing showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the new electricsign; and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modification of theinvention. 5 A preferred form of the invention is shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawing wherein 4 indicates a so-called luminous tube which is shown asbeing mounted upon suitable supporting brackets 2 which may be attachedto any suitable support by means of fastening elements 3. The luminoustube 4 has end portions which are received in housings 6 and these endportions are provided with terminals 5 to which are attachedcurrentconducting wires 8 which, in turn, are attached to the housings 6by means of suitable clamping nuts 1.

Rctatably mounted upon the luminous tube 4 is a spiral member I which ismade of suitable opaque materials such as metal, this spiral member Ibeing adapted to .be driven by any suitable operating mechanism such asthat which is shown in Fig. 1 and which comprises a motor arranged inthe housing 9 and operating a pulley and belt mechanism I0II-I2.

In the use of that form of the invention which is illustrated in Fig. 1the spiral member I is rotated upon the luminous tube 4 by means of themotor mechanism III-I II2, and when thus rotated the illusion of aspirally moving band of light is created as portions of the luminoustube 4 are successively exposed to view by the spaces between adjacentconvolutions of the spiral member I.

It will be noted that the convolutions of spiral member I graduallydecrease in size from one end to the other, and in this form of theinvention, when the spiral member I is rotated the sizes of the lightspots or spirally moving bands of light successively exposed to viewwill be varied by reason of the gradually changing size of the spacesbetween successive convolutions of the spiral member I.

It will be seen, therefore, that the device shown in Fig. 1 may be usedas an advertising or display device for the purpose of attractingattention of passersby, and as such may be used in various places such,for example, as drug stores, gasoline filling stations and the like.

A modified form of the invention is shown in Fig. 2, and this form ofthe invention difiers from that which is shown in Fig. 1, in that thestationary luminous tube 4, instead of being straight, as is theluminous tube 4 which is illustrated in Fig. 1, has a curvilinear or areshape, and the spiral member I which is rotatably mounted thereon, is ofa corresponding shape and may be driven by a suitable operatingmechanism such as that shown in Fig. 1.

Hence, it will be seen that my invention provides novel and attractivemeans for catching the eye of a passerb-y and is well adapted for anyone of a number of purposes such as, for example, to be used in awarning signal or as part of an advertising display.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred forms ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, these are capable ofvariation and modification, without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of con struction set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A display device comprising an elongated luminous tube, a spiralmember rotatably mounted upon the said luminous tube and having spiralconvolutions varying gradually in length axially thereof, and means forrotating the said spiral member relative to and around the said luminoustube.

2. A display device comprising a statiOnary elongated luminous tube, aspiral member rotatably mounted upon the said luminous tube and havingspiral convolutions varying gradually in length axially thereof, andmeans for rotating the said spiral member relative to and around thesaid luminous tube.

3. A display device comprising a curvilinear elongated luminous tube, acurvilinear spiral member rotatably mounted upon the said luminous tubeand having spiral convolutions varying gradually in length axiallythereof, and means for rotating the spiral member relative to and aroundthe said luminous tube.

4. A display device comprising a curvilinear stationary elongatedluminous tube, a curvilinear spiral member rotatably mounted upon thesaid luminous tube and having spiral convolutions varying gradually inlength axially thereof, and means'for rotating the spiral memberrelative to and around the said luminous tube.

5. A display device comprising a light source, a substantiallyspiral-shaped member mounted for rotatable movement about the said lightsource and having substantially spiral convolutions varying gradually inlength axially thereof, and means for rotating the said spiral memberrelative to and around the said light source.

ELMER L. BALLEW.

